AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn softball's nine-game homestand continues this weekend as the Tigers (17-11-1) host Louisiana Tech (23-9) and Georgia Tech (24-14) for the Wear Eagle Classic at Jane B. Moore Field.
"You take your BYE weekend in SEC play when it comes," said head coach Mickey Dean. "You just want to make sure you're getting better each week and staying on track. Both teams coming in this weekend are good programs. It's not conference play, but it's definitely not a weekend where we can relax. We do get to play these games at home, and this late in the season, that's always nice."
The tournament begins with a doubleheader slate on Friday. Auburn faces Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m. CT before taking on the Yellow Jackets at 5 p.m. CT. Both contests will stream on the SEC Network+. Lynn Rollins and Auburn softball alumna Kim Owens will have the call.
The first 100 fans at Jane B. Moore Field for Auburn's contest versus Georgia Tech will receive a free War Eagle Classic collectible pennant. Pennants will be available starting at 4 p.m. CT.
Saturday also features a twin billing on the SEC Network+. Auburn will face Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. CT before taking on Georgia Tech at 4 p.m. CT. Graham Doty and Amy Reif will have the call.
All four contests are also available locally on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network. Brit Bowen and Carson Meier will have the call on Friday. Bowen will be joined in the booth by Brant Daughtry on Saturday.
Auburn leads the all-time series versus Louisiana Tech with a 5-3 mark, which includes an undefeated 4-0 record in games played at Jane B. Moore Field. The two teams are meeting for the first time since the 2019 season when the Lady Techsters edged out a 2-1 win. Auburn trails in the series to Georgia Tech 5-7. Last season, the Yellow Jackets took a 2-1 win in Atlanta in the two programs' first meeting in over a decade. Both Louisiana Tech and Georgia Tech are making their first trips to The Plains since 2012.
The Tigers are coming off a midweek victory as Auburn knocked off in-state opponent Samford 8-0 in five innings on Wednesday. Maddie Penta, Shelby Lowe and Annabelle Widra combined for Auburn's second perfect game of the season and the fourth in program history. With her efforts on Wednesday, Penta became the first Tiger pitcher to be credited with multiple perfect games.
Penta leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 143 strikeouts this season. She ranks third in the SEC in shutouts (6), eighth in earned run average (1.77) and 11th in victories (10).
With three home runs in Auburn's last three games, KK McCrary has carried Auburn's offense as of late. Since the Tennessee series, McCrary is 7-for-12 with a triple, three home runs, six runs scored and four RBI. She enters the weekend on a four-game hit streak.
With her three-run blast on Wednesday, nine of Amelia Lech's 16 hits have been home runs. She leads the team with 26 RBI and enters the weekend ranked seventh in the SEC in home runs per game (0.31), 10th in total home runs, 11th in slugging percentage (.723) and 15th in RBI per game (0.90).